ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington’s 14 NCAA Division III teams will compete in the restructured United East Conference when it merges with the Colonial States Athletic Conference effective July 1. Student athletes will face competitors from a total of 17 member institutions headquartered in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia beginning with the fall 2023 season. 

Erin Foley, the director of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation at Abington, said the revitalized conference sets the stage for an enhanced student-athlete experience.  

“The merger will be beneficial for everyone involved. It provides the conference with strength and stability for the foreseeable future, and it allows expanded competition opportunities for our student athletes while continuing the tradition of competing against our longtime rivals,” Foley, a former two-sport Abington student athlete, said.  

This spring Abington wrapped up the inaugural season of its men’s and women’s track and field programs. The campus also fields teams in men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, and tennis; men’s baseball and golf; and women’s softball and volleyball. 

“The conference expansion reflects the growth that we’ve seen with our own programs in recent years, and we’re excited to welcome these new schools,” Margo DelliCarpini, Abington’s chancellor, said. 

Abington’s membership in the United East Conference dates back to 2004, when it was branded the North Eastern Athletic Conference.   

About Penn State Abington 

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education to its diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers bachelor’s degrees in 25 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics, and more.